LGBT laws clash with NCAA policy

In this April 25, 2016 file photo, Krys Didtrey, left, and Gloria Merriweather, center, of Charlotte, N.C. lead the chants in opposition to the new North Carolina transgender law in the lobby of the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C.
In this April 25, 2016 file photo, Krys Didtrey, left, and Gloria Merriweather, center, of Charlotte, N.C. lead the chants in opposition to the new North Carolina transgender law in the lobby of the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C.

Teams are contemplating whether to pull out of scheduled NCAA events this spring because of new state laws in North Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee.

But the sports' governing body's demands for discrimination-free environments at the places where its events are held won't take effect until the fall.

Although there are many unknowns before the measure takes effect, 27 NCAA championships are scheduled this spring, and some state laws already are on the books.

A Minnesota state university system banned its athletic teams from traveling to tournaments in North Carolina, which passed a law opponents say can allow discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Most of the schools in that system are Division II or III schools; the University of Minnesota, a member of the Big Ten, is not one of them.

The decision means one of the top baseball teams in Division II -- St. Cloud State, ranked No. 3 in one of the top 25 polls -- likely will forgo the opportunity to reach its first Division II World Series later this month in Cary, N.C.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said system leaders are in the process of reconsidering the ban, and St. Cloud State President Earl Potter is hopeful a resolution is reached.

He said in a statement Wednesday that the school will "not engage in any speculation at this point" because the NCAA "is tracking this situation and is working to determine how many teams might be affected by such bans."

Minnesota State-Mankato, which has advanced to Cary four times since 2010, also is part of that system of schools.

"This is something that is beyond our control at this point, so you trust that the people making those decisions have made them for the right reasons," Coach Matt Magers said.

The NCAA will require sites hosting or bidding on both its predetermined and merit-based events to show how they will provide an environment that is "safe, healthy and free from discrimination."

Spokesman Stacey Osburn said the NCAA is looking for the best way to implement the measure.

What it decides is a concern for people such as Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. His group helps with the bidding on and organizing of sporting events in North Carolina. He said organizations that host or bid on games will have to complete a form from the NCAA outlining its anti-discrimination requirements.

"The question is, what specifically is that form going to require of cities and hosts, and is that something we'll be capable of meeting?" Dupree said. "I know they'll ask that we guarantee a championship environment that is free of discrimination. And of course we have been doing that in the past, for years, with no problem. We have a proven record in that regard.

"But what if the NCAA comes back to us and says, 'Well you're promising all of this, but the fact is you still have a law on the books that allows for discrimination.' That's my concern."

In adopting its measure, the NCAA said it was following the actions of legislatures in several states but did not identify them. In addition to North Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee have passed similar laws.

The anti-discrimination policy seems to close a loophole in previous NCAA directives.

Although schools were not allowed to host predetermined events if their state governments flew the Confederate battle flag, schools in those states -- Mississippi and South Carolina, until it took down the flag last year -- were able to host merit-based, nonpredetermined events such as the FCS playoffs and baseball regionals.

Officials at the University of Memphis, the host for the 2017 men's basketball South Regional, said the NCAA will determine whether a new Tennessee law will affect those plans. Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill that allows mental health counselors to refuse to treat patients based on the therapist's religious or personal beliefs.

In Mississippi, a law goes into effect July 1 that will allow government workers, religious groups and some private businesses to cite religious beliefs to deny services to LGBT people. Three universities in the state -- Mississippi State, Mississippi and Southern Mississippi -- have some of the nation's top baseball teams and could be in line to host NCAA regionals next month.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill that prevents local governments from passing their own anti-discrimination rules covering the use of public accommodations. That came in response to Charlotte leaders approving a measure that allowed transgender people to use the restroom aligned with their gender identity. The law blocks local and state protections for LGBT people and takes away people's ability to use state law to sue over workplace discrimination.

Sports on 05/05/2016

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